Random, interesting studies

Mauritio

Progesterone seems to have some interaction with 5ht1a.
not sure what. but seems antagonistic somehow.
could also be that it lowers serotonin and therefore lowers 5ht1a receptor density.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12742638/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12062903/

Mauritio

Hesperidin

Hesperidin (and diosmin) increase FGF21 and lower MDA in mice.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39459367/

Increases FGF21 and strongly lowers SCD1.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6180094/

27% max life span increase, not bad. In C. Elegans though.
"Compared with that of the control group, the average and maximum lifespans of C. elegans treated with 75 μM Hst were extended by 16.28% (p < 0.05) and 27.27% (p < 0.01), respectively."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11642050/#sec2-ijms-25-13148

It mitigated the damage that endotoxin causes to the uterus by activating AMPK and PGC-1A.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40886876/

It increases the protein level of Klotho, SIRT1 and MnSOD
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41463028/

There's a lot of studies showing benefits on skin health. So I thought about making a topical solution of hepseredin. It's not very soluble in many things.
This study used 70% ethanol and it worked.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4366273/
The alcohol might be drying to the skin so not sure if that makes sense.

Anti-Fibrotic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Hesperidin in an Ex Vivo Mouse Model of Early-Onset Liver Fibrosis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12840767/

Mauritio

What is going on with Chia seeds ??

Randomly stumbled upon this.
A casual 7x increase in testosterone while it decimates prolactin. Not bad.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11250-025-04391-x

In this study it restored testosterone and thyroid hormones that were suppressed from heavy metal exposure. Also increases antioxidants quite strongly.

It has a pretty high polyphenol content (see image above)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10817305/#sec3-life-14-00109

In this study in female animals it increased Progesterone and LH significantly.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040816623001441

Chia seeds arevery high in PUFA, especially Omega 3s . So not sure how they help so much with hormones, since PUFA usually is anti-androgenic.
Maybe it's a short term effect ?
Maybe Chia seeds help with transit and reduce gut inflammation ?

In this study after thyroidectomy, Chia seeds extract was given.
It completely restored thyroid hormones, testosterone and sperm parameters. Also lowered MDA, and increased antioxidants.
https://arccjournals.com/journal/asian-journal-of-dairy-and-food-research/DRF-413

alfredoolivas

@Mauritio a distinction is its powder. I don’t think the seeds are digested and stay intact. Awesome find regardless

Mauritio

@alfredoolivas
Nice catch, this might be important. So it's actually something in the seeds, not the laxative effect.

Just saw you can also buy Chia seeds as powder.

Mauritio

Plant Pregnenolone

The Malaysian plant Holarrhena curtisii contains actual pregnenolone. Its properties also sound somewhat anti-serotonergic.

Screenshot 2026-07-10 20.11.08.png
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278103906_Pregnenolone_from_the_Roots_of_Holarrhena_curtisii

It also contains alkaloids with steroidal activity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9834146/

Another alkaloid from the same genus can convert into Pregnenolone in vivo
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248216582_In_vivo_conversion_of_a_steroidal_alkaloid_holaphyllamine_to_pregnenolone

This paper shows that plants con convert steroids into each other and contain different ratios of known steroids.

Digitalis grandiflora for example contains pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, DHEA, and testosterone

https://pure.mpg.de/rest/items/item_3524574_6/component/file_3528676/content

Holarrhena pubescens another plant from the same genus has anti malarial effects, which rely on the pregnene-type steroidal alkaloids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29172699/

Interesting effects of Holarrhena pubescens on diabetes, also anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/9/1341#

Conessine, a steroidal alkaloid from Holarrhena pubescens has antiviral, antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6496801

Conessine is a histamine H3-antagonist
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26924015/

Mauritio

Hormones activate one of the bitter Taste receptors.

". androsterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate with 0.1 µM and adrenosterone as well as pregnenolone with 0.3 µM, respectively, showed threshold concentrations in the submicromolar range."

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12915477/#nyas70172-sec-0080

alfredoolivas

@Mauritio they taste awful unless dissolved in tocopherol lol

sunsunsun

This post is deleted!

Mossy

That is interesting about Chia seeds. Especially from a Peat perspective. (Or maybe I should say from my novice understanding of Peat.) Anything with seeds I've avoided since learning of Peat.

Could the powder of a Chia seed even be different from simply grinding the seeds?

Mauritio

@Mossy Peat even said he can't see any value whatsoever in chia seeds, which is weird because they contain a lot of polyphenols, fiber and minerals, so there is at least some nutritional value there.

And he said if someone feels better from them it's probably the laxative effect, which is more or less ruled out in the above study.

So I still dont understand how it has these effects.
And it doesnt seem to be just the grounded seeds. There's another study I posted which used chia seed extract, which was very beneficial as well.
And IIRC another one used whole chia seeds.

I think the powder and grounded seeds should be very similar. Unless the powder is somehow defattened. But suppose they would state that.

There was a thread on here recently that Omega 3s are essential and you need them for certain things. Ive only skimmed it, but maybe it has something to do with that.

So following the true method of knowledge I will order some grounded chia seeds and see for myself.

Mossy

@Mauritio Appreciate your thoroughness. It will be interesting to see what effect they have on you. I don't like the taste and feel of chia seeds, but maybe they could be used as a food supplement, like I do with liver.